FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cold fresh water to drink; is there anything better? But what if the water had a strange smell, taste or color? Even worse, what if it was completely unsafe to drink?
Thankfully, there is a small team of professionals called the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Management Division Compliance Branch that works behind the scenes each day to ensure the installation’s water, soil, air and other aspects of the environment remain clean and healthy.
“We are mandated by U.S. law to have an environmental program,” said Mark Hazelwood, program manager at Compliance Branch. “Folks are regulated outside of Fort Knox but not to the extent that we are on the military installation. The government is hardest on itself.”
At the helm of the Environmental Compliance Branch is Derrick Born. With 20 years of education and practical experience, Born is the branch chief and go-to for any issues that arise. He manages a team of four civilian employees and a few contractors to assist them.
“We have a combined staff of [Department of Army] Civilians and Texas State University personnel to monitor and evaluate projects and military processes for compliance with existing permits,” said Born, “and, where lacking, apply for new permits to meet current and future mission requirements.”
If regulations arm the team, permits and work orders put them into the fight. The permits come from state and federal environmental agencies as environmental safety requirements that Fort Knox must meet. The work orders come from all over.
As the National Environmental Policy Act program manager, Mike Hasty receives and processes all the work orders and every scope of work for construction, demolition, relocations, equipment procurements and more. He also serves as the liaison between the team and project managers, contracting agencies and the Environmental Management Division. Born calls him his “tip of the spear.”
“Everything comes through me,” said Hasty. “I disperse it out, gather requirements from within Environmental as far as comments, projects or whatever it may be. It funnels back through me, and I funnel it up to whomever it needs to go.”
Hazelwood is the program manager for stormwater and groundwater programs. The most experienced voice in the room with over 40 years of service, Hazelwood is considered by Born as critical to the team and highly effective at applying smart and practical solutions to protect Kentucky’s waterways.
The other water program manager, Dominic Anako, runs the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Program, with emphasis on implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act, monitoring all bulk storage containers or above and below-ground storage tanks.
Chassidy Holleman manages the Hazardous Waste Classification Unit and is responsible for accepting, processing, storing and shipping all waste generated from Fort Knox to a permitted landfill or Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility. The newest member, Holleman formerly worked as a Kentucky state regulator, making her a unique asset for ensuring compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Texas State University contractor Charlie Roth assists program managers with permits, inspections and testing of everything from lead-based paint to asbestos and mold.
The other contractor, Rebecca Phelps, has an added role. Because there is no manager for the Clean Air Act program, she has been tasked to run it. Her responsibilities include keeping records, inspections and collecting data on generator emissions, HVAC systems, boilers and more, ensuring the installation stays within permit limits.
The whole team regularly inspects key sites to ensure compliance with all regulations. They also conduct recurring leader briefings and classroom training on environmental safety measures, urging those in need to call them for courtesy inspections or site-specific training.
“Our ultimate mission is leaving a lasting legacy,” said Born. “We ensure that our necessary operations today never compromise the natural world, safeguarding a resilient and thriving environment for future generations to inherit and enjoy.”
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